Three-way valve



J. D. BENBOW.

THREE-WAY VALVE.

APPLucATloN FILED DEC. 2, 1918.

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PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES D. BENBOW, OF AURORA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN WHEELEDSCRAPER COMPANY, 0F AURORA, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

Tirana-WAY vALvF.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 1, 1921.

To all vwhom it Imay concern.'

Be it known that I, JAMES D. BENow, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Aurora, in the county of Kane and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Three-Way Valves,

of which the following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings.

My invention relates to valves, and has primarily for itsv object toprovide -a new and improved three-way valve suitable for use inconnection with compressed air operated dump cars in which provision ismade for controlling the admission of compressed air from a reservoir tothe operating cylinthereof illustrated in the accompanyingl drawings.What I regard as new will vbe set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings: y

Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved valve, some parts being brokenaway;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing the valve inits open position; and

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the valve in its closed or exhaustingposition. Y

Referring to the drawings, 4 indicates the body or shell of the valve,in which is an elongated cylindrical valve chamber 5 open on its lowerend. As shown at 4, the body 4 extends some distance beyond the lowerend of the valve chamber 5 and is provided atV opposite sides thereofwith longitudinal slots 6. It will be understood that the terms upperand lower as herein used have reference merely to the parts as shown inthe drawings, as the valve may, if desired, be used in other positions.7 indicates a cylindrical bushing fitted in the valve chamber 5. 8indicates an inlet passage at one side of the valve body 4, and 9indicates an outlet passage at the opposite side of the body and lsomewhat nearer the longitudinal center thereof. These passages arepreferably internally threaded for convenient application thereto of pies leading in the one case to the source o suppl of compressed air orother operating flui and in the othercase to the device to be operatedby such fluid, as for example, the operatingl cylinder of a dump car.The passage 8 leads to an annular channel 10 which surrounds the bushing7, and also to a duct 11 which opens into the upper end of the valvechamber 5, as shown 1n Figs. 2-8, so that the inner end of the slidevalve hereinafter described is always subJected to pressure admittedthrough passage 8, and therefore normally tends to move downward asviewed in the drawings. A series of ports l2 in the bushing 7 oppositethe channel 10 are adapted to admit air fromthe channel 10 to the valvechamber 5.

13v indicates an annular channel which surrounds the intermediateportion of the bushing 7 opposite the passage 9, the bushing at thatpoint being provided with ports 1f); for connecting the channel 13 tothe interior of the valve chamber 5. 15 indicates an exhaust passage,opposite the lower portion of the valve chamber 5 and communicatingwith an annular channel 16 which surrounds the lower portion o f thebushing 7 and communicates with the valve chamber 5 through a series ofports 17 in said bushing.

18 indicates a cylindrical slide valve fitted in the valve chamber 5,said valve having shoulders 19-2() at its opposite ends upon which arefitted cup washers 21-22 of leather or other suitable material. Thewashers 21-22 fit closely in the bore of the bushing 7 and are separatedfrom each other far enough so that by movin the slide valve to theproper position the inlet and outlet passages may be simultaneouslyconnected with the valve chamber 5 around the inter` mediate portion ofthe slide valve, which is reduced suiciently in diameter to ermit theair to iow around it., This position of the parts is shown in Fig. 2. Bymoving the slide valve to the position shown in Fig. 3, the passage 9may be connected in a similar manner with the exhaust passage 15.

The slide valve 18 is operated by means projects a rod 26 which extendsthrough the slide valve, as shown in Fig. 3. A washer 27 is itted uponthe upper end of the rod 26 over the intermediate portion of the washer21, and a nut 28 screwed upon the upper end of the rod 26 secures theseveral parts together.

The cross head 23 is reciprocated in the slots 6 to move the slide valve18 from one position to the other by means of a lever 29 A mounted on apivot 30 at the'upper end of the valvebody, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3,and connected by links 31 to the opposite ends of the cross head,asshown in Fig. 1. 32 indicates a pivot which connects the links 31 withthe cross head 23. The upperends of the links 31 are connected to thelever 29 adjacent to its fulcrum by a pivot 33 fitted in a transversesleeve 34 carried by said lever, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, so that saidlinks are held properly apart. The sleeve 34 is provided with a lug orstop 35 adapted to engage theupper end of the valve body 4 when thelever isin the position shown in Fig. 3, and to limit the movement ofthe lever in the opposite direction itis provided with a lug or stop 36atrits `opposite sidev adjacent' to the pivot 30 which engages the upper'end of the body 4 when the lever is in the position shown in Fig. 2.This lug or stopv 36 is so arranged that when the lever 29 is in thelatter position, the pivot 33 is carried slightly beyond a lineintersecting thefpivots 30 and 32, as shown in Fig. 2, thereby lockingthe lever inl this position.

It will be apparent that when` the partsare in the position shown in Fig.' 2, which may be termed the open position of the slide valve,compressed air entering through passage 8 will `pass through ports 12 tothe space around the intermediate portion of the slide valve, and thenceout throughthe ports 14 to passage 9 leading to the dump car cylinder orother device tov be operated. The upper end of the slide valve is.constantly subjected to air pressure admitted through duct' 11 to theupper portion of the `valve chamber 5, and consequently the slide valvetends normaliy to move to its exhausting position shown in Fig. 3. Itmay, however, be locked in the open position shownin Fig. 2 by means ofthe lever 29. By swinging the lever 29 over to the left, as shown inFig. 3, the slide valve is moved down to connect the ports 14 with theexhaust ports 17 and cut ofi' the ports 12 from the ports 14. Thispermits the compressed air in the operating cylinder or other device tofiow back through passa e 9 into the lower portion of the valve cham r 5and escape through the exhaust passage 15. The slots 6 serve to guidethe crosshead 23 as it is reciprocated. It will be obvious that theparts of the valve may readily removed and replaced by withdrawingeither of the pivots 32 or 33, as this to secure by Letters will permitthe slide valve to be drawn outl of the valve chamber, and the bushingmay then be easily removed. While I prefer to usepa lever such as thelever 29 for operating the slide valve, and to mount such lever on thebody of the valve, my invention, generically considered, is not limitedto the use of a lever forthat lpurpose but includes any equivalent meansmounted 4in any manner suitable to accomplish the desired purpose. Inother respects also, except in so far as it is particularly claimed, myinvention is'not limited to the specific construction shown anddescribed.

What I claim as m invention and desire atent, is:

1. A three-way valve comprising a having a valve chamber, inlet, outlet,and exhaust passages communicating with said chamber at lon 'tudinallyseparate points,

and a slide va ve movable longitudinallyY l body in said chamber toconnect said outlet pasl sage with either said inlet passageor saidexhaust passage, said valve being constantly subjectedto fiuid pressuretending to move it longitudinally in said chamber.

2. A three-way valve 'comprising a body having la valve chamber, inlet,outlet, and exhaust passages communicating with said chamber atlongitudinally separate points, a slide valve movable longitudinallv Insaid chamber to connect `said outlet passage vwith either said inletpassage or said exhaust passage, and a passage constantly connectingsaid inlet passa e with said valve chamber beyond theI adyacent end ofsaid slide valve. y

, 3. A three-way valve comprising a body having a valve chamber, inlet,outlet, and exhaust passages communicating` with said chamber atlongitudinally separate points, a slide valve movable longitudinally insaid chamber to connect said -outlet passage with either said inletpassage or said exhaust passage,V mechanism movable to operate saidslide valve so as toconnect said inlet and outlet passages, and meansfor constantly admitting fluid pressure to said valve chamber above saidslide valve.

4. A three-way-valve comprising a body having a valve chamber, inlet,outlet, and exhaust passages communicating with' said chamber atlongitudinally separate points, a slide valve movable longitudinally insaid chamber to connect said outlet passage with eithersaid inletpassage or said exhau t passage, la lever movable to operate saidvalve'so as to connect said inlet and outlet passages, and means forconstantly admitting Huid pressure to4 said valve chamber above saidslide valve. l

5. A three-way valve comprising a body having a valve chamber, inlet,outlet, and exhaust passages communicating with said Chamber atlongitudinally separate points,

a slide valve movable longitudinally in said:

nally separate points, a slide -valve movable longitudinally in saidchamber to connect said outlet passage with either said inlet passage orsaid exhaust passage, a lever for moving said slide valve, and meanscontrolledby said lever for locking said valve in its open position.

7.' A three-Way valve comprising a body having a valve chamber, open atone end, inlet, outlet, and exhaust passages communicating with saidchamber at longitudinallv separate points, a slide valve movablelongitudinally in said chamber to connect said outlet passage witheither said inlet passage or said exhaust passage, a lever mounted overone end of the body, a stem connected with said slide valve, and one ormore links connecting said lever with said stem and adapted to operateto lock said slide valve in its open position.

8. A three-way valve comprising a body having a valve chamber, open atone end, inlet, outlet, and exhaust passages communicatin with saidchamber at longitudinallv separate points, a slide valve movablelongitudinally in said chamber to connect said outlet passage witheither said inlet passage or said exhaust passage, a lever 'mounted onthe body, a cross head connected with said vslide valve and operating inslots in the body, and links connecting said .cross head WithV saidlever.

9. A. three-way valve comprising a body having a valve chamber, l'inlet, outlet and exhaust passages communicating with said chamber atlongitudinally separate points. a slide valve movable longitudinally insaid chamber to connect said outlet passagewith either said inlet'passage or said exhaust passage, and means for constantly admittingiiuid pressure to said valve chamber above said slide valve.

10, A three-way valve comprising a body having a valve chamber open atone end, inlet, outlet, and exhaust passages communicating with saidchamber at longitudi :sally separate points, a slide valve movablelongitudinally in lsaid. chamber to connect said outlet passage witheither said inlet passage or said exhaustvpassage, a lever mounted onone end of the body, meansl operatively connecting said lever with theopposite end of said slide valve and operating in one position to locksaid slide valve against operation, and stops for limiting the movementof said lever in either direction.

l1. A three-way valve comprising a body having a valve chamber, inlet,outlet, and exhaust passages communicating with said chamber atlongitudinally separate points, a slide valve movable longitudinally insaid chamber to connect said outlet passage with elther said inletpassage or said exhaust passafre-and tendin normally to move to itsexhausting positlon, and means for lock` ing said slide valve in itsopen position.

12. A three-Way valve comprising a body having a valve chamber, inlet,outlet, and exhaust passages communicating laterally with said chamberat longitudinally separate points, a lslide valve movable longitudinallyin said chamber to connect said outlet passage with either said inletpassage or said exhaust passage, cup Washers carried by the end portionsof said slide valve, a duct leading from said inlet passage to saidvalve chamber above said slide valve, and means mounted on the body formoving 4said slide valve in said valve chamber.

13. A three-way valve comprising a body closed at one end and having avalve chamber, inlet, outlet, and exhaust passages communicatinglaterally with said chamber at longitudinally' separate points, a slidevalve movable longitudinally in said chamber to connect said outletpassage with either said inlet passage or with said exhaust passage, arocking .lever mounted over the closed end of the body, and meansoperatively connecting said lever With the outer end of said slide valveand coacting with said lever to lock said slide valve in one position. y

14.-. A threewvay valve comprising a body closed at one end and having avalve chamber. inlet, outlet, and exhaust passagescommunicating-laterally with said chamber at longitudinally separatepoints, a duct leading from said inlet passage to the inner end portionof said valve chamber, a slide valve movable longitudinally in saidchamber to connect said outlet passage with either said inlet passage orsaid exhaust passage, a rocking lever mounted on the closed end of thebody, and means operatively connecting said lever` with the outer end ofsaidl slide valve. Y

15. A three-way valve comprising a body closed at one end and open atthe other, and having a valve, chamber, inlet, outlet, and exhaustpassages communicating laterally with said chamber at longitudinallyseparate points, a slide valve movable longitudi nally in said chamberto connect said outlet passage either with said inlet passage or withsaid exhaust passage, a rocking lever mounted on the closed end of thebody, a

cross head mounted in said valve body adjacent the open end thereof andconnected Withsaid slide valve, and one or more links connecting saidcross head with -said lever.

16. 'AA three-Way valve comprising a body closed at one end and having avalve chamber, inlet, outlet, and exhaust passages communicatinglaterally With said chamber' at longitudinally separate points, a ductleading from said inlet passage to the inner end por-l tion of saidvalve chamber, a slide valve movable longitudinally in said chamber toconnectsaid outlet passage with either said inlet passage or saidexhaust passage, a rocking lever mounted on the closed end of the b ody,a cross head mounted in said valve body adjacent the open end thereofand connected with said slide valve, and one or more links vconnectingsaid cross head with said lever.

17. A three-way valve comprising a body closed at one end and having avalve chamber, inlet, outlet, and exhaust passages communicatinglaterally with said chamber at longitudinally separate points, a slidevalve movable longitudinally in said chamber to connect said outlet!passage with either said inlet passage or said exhaust passage, arocking lever mounted on the closed end of the body,

municating laterally With said chamber at longitudinally separatepoints, a duct lead-.

ing from said inlet passage to the inner end portion of said valvechamber, a slide valve movable longitudinally in said chamber to connectsaid outlet passage with either said inlet `passage or said exhaustpassage, a rocking lever mounted on the closed end of the body, a crosshead mounted in said valve body adjacent the open end thereof andconnected With said slide valve, one or more links connecting said crosshead with said lever, and stops for limiting the extent to which thelever may rock in either direction.

JAMES D. BENBOW.

